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By Emmanuel Adeleke
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, has been released after he was arrested at John F. Kennedy Airport, New York, on Wednesday, for being in possession of metal knuckles.
The fighter’s manager, Tim Simpson, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said that Adesanya is already on his way home.
“When flagged at the airport, Israel quickly disposed of the item and cooperated with authorities.
“He has complied accordingly. With that, the matter was dismissed and he’s on his way home.
“Israel was handed a gift by a fan, which he put in his luggage,” Simpson said.
The 33-year-old lost his title by TKO to Alex Pereira in New York last Saturday night, and was later arrested by Port Authority police in the American Airlines terminal.
Metal knuckles are illegal in New York.Being in possession is a Class A misdemeanor. TSA rules allow metal knuckles to be stored in checked luggage, but bans passengers from possessing them in carry-on bags.